Osteoporosis Research Using a Murine Animal Model

This research is performed in collaboration with Drs. Orhan Oz and Joe Zerwekh at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.  Research studies are performed using a particular phenotype of mouse that is prone to develop a condition similar to osteoporosis in humans.  Studies are performed to compare the effects of different medical treatment on the bones.  Drs. Oz and Zerwekh are experts at histology and radiology in the study of the physiological changes that occur in osteoporotic bone.  Dr. Skurla offers an additional tool in their research.  Using engineering mechanical testing methods, mouse femora are being mechanically tested in three-point bend in order to study the properties of the bone, including strength and stiffness.  In this manner bone strength between different phenotypes of mice or between mice of the same phenotype receiving different treatments can be further studied.

Bone Degradation

This research is performed in collaboration with Dr. Lori Baker of the Baylor University Forensic Science program.  A recent preliminary study involved testing a variety of sheep long bones (i.e., humerus, radius, ulna) that had been left under a variety of conditions (i.e., full sun, shade, water) for times ranging from 1 week to 4 months.  It is hoped that at the conclusion of this study, forensics experts will have additional information regarding the fracture properties of bones at various stages of degradation.  Real CSI kind of stuff.